Medical ceramics, which are used in surgical implants, prosthetics, and medical devices, have now become an integral part of a number of medical fields. And thanks to 3D printing, producing these ceramic-based medical products is a whole lot easier and more efficient. Medical ceramics have made their way into both commonplace practices and procedures and advanced therapies and treatments. From X-rays, to valves, to pressure sensors, the possibilities that ceramics present are virtually endless. Medical ceramics are classified into five major processes: zirconia ceramics, alumina ceramics, hot isostatic pressure (HIP), injection molding technology, and ceramics in electronic devices.
What makes ceramics ideal as compared with traditional alternatives is that they are durable, and they can be used in conjunction with both living and non-living material (i.e. skin tissue or metal). Further, the most recently developed type of ceramics, or bio-inert ceramics, pose virtually no risk to the body, which is hugely important. This is because, unlike other materials, bio-inert ceramics do not interact with or adversely affect the environment they are implanted into, significantly reducing the risk of rejection, infection, or other complications.
Medical ceramics are being used as an alternative to traditional metal braces, as they can take more impact and are less visible. The visibility part is especially important, as it means that more individuals are likely to wear braces and be open to fixing their teeth with the knowledge that their braces won’t be as obvious. Zirconia ceramics are increasingly being used for implant devices, such as hip and tooth replacements, since they are stronger than their alumina counterparts, and require less material usage. Injection molding, which involves the production of very intricate parts, i.e. dental brackets, is a technique that allows a number of medical devices to be produced in a short amount of time. Further, injection molding is significantly cheaper and less time consuming than traditional machining techniques.
One of the most recent innovations in medical ceramics is electronic implantable ceramic sensors, which have a number of applications ranging from pressure sensing to neurostimulation. Several companies are developing ceramic-based sensors that act as neurostimulators to treat a number of neurological disorders. The beauty of these sensors is that they can be made into different sizes depending on various needs, even at the nano level. This is especially important in the case of neurostimulators, which need to be extremely tiny in order to be implanted into nerve tissue. Electronic ceramic sensors demonstrate that ceramics can be seamlessly integrated with several advanced technologies.
In terms of the global market, medical ceramics offer great potential. According to analysts at Technavio, the global medical ceramics market is expected to reach $18 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of just over 7%. Demand for ceramic-based devices, specifically x-ray tubes and pressure sensors, is helping to fuel the market to a great extent. Bio-inert materials, which includes bio-inert ceramics, accounted for nearly 40% of the market share in 2015, and, given the qualities previously mentioned (durability, zero interaction), this percentage should continue to grow. Expect to see more developments in medical ceramics in the next five years, especially in the area of sensors and advanced implant devices.
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